I am currently a Ph.D candidate at the University of Vermont, studying the evolution of the Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) through two main threads - transposable elements and epigenetics.

The thread that ties my research and professional interests together is a fascination with how humans impact other species with which we coexist. My interests have led me to study the evolution of domestication in mammals, the impacts of farming on the species that are directly and indirectly involved in food production, how human-driven plant changes can affect pollinator health, and my current work on how human activities may facilitate rapid evolution in invasive insect species. This research can neatly blend both the basic research of understanding the underlying mechanisms of evolution and the broader impacts of knowing how best to manage our use of resources and limit our impacts on other species and ecosystems.

My work bridges bioinformatics and data science, with an emphasis on visualization.